Bob Ford

STAFF COLUMNIST

Bob Ford is an award-winning sports columnist for the Inquirer and Daily News. He is a four-time Pennsylvania Sportswriter of the Year, as selected by the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. His work has been cited numerous times by Associated Press Sports Editors judges, and he won an Eclipse Award for outstanding coverage of horse racing. Prior to becoming a columnist at the Inquirer, Ford was the 76ers beat writer for six seasons and then a general assignment feature writer with a specialty in Olympic sports. In 1995, he was designated a fellow of the Knight Center for Specialized Journalism. Ford has written sports in the Philadelphia area since 1981, when he served as the Phillies beat writer and later as a general sports columnist for the Delaware County Daily Times.

So, this is what we know about the Eagles offensive line for the coming 2009 season: Every available member of the Andrews family has been signed and very few incumbent tackles are on board.

The Eagles are in a position to wait and see about right tackle John Runyan, a free agent recovering from knee surgery, but they lost the services of left tackle Tra Thomas, who signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

What does it mean? Well, if Stacy Andrews is indeed going to be the right tackle, it means that either Shawn Andrews will be shifted to left tackle from right guard (unlikely), or that Todd Herremans will move from left guard to left tackle (not quite as unlikely, but not that great), Winston Justice will make a huge leap in ability (yeah, I've got a picture of that happening), or the Eagles will have to find a new left tackle.

I think moving Shawn Andrews to left tackle is unlikely because he is coming off a serious injury and because his mental attitude is unknown. Just getting him back as a serviceable guard would be a positive for the Eagles. Expecting him to come back and change positions seems like more than they would ask.

There are a limited number of excellent offensive tackles available in the draft, but the Eagles, who hold the 21st and 28th picks would have to move into the top 10 to be assured of getting one of them.

That has to be what is going on here. If that isn't their plan, then letting Thomas go makes no sense. Allowing Brian Dawkins to walk away is meaningless compared to the tightrope they are walking with their offensive line right now.